Western Zone Premier League: Dave Henderson claims hat-trick in match-winning five wicket haul for Bathurst

Henderson finished with figures of 5-25 from his 10 overs, claiming a devastating hat-trick in the process to put Orange on the back foot almost instantly.

His efforts helped Bathurst restrict the visitors to 97 all out at the Sportsground before the hosts chased down the target in 27 overs.

It's not a bad effort at all from a player who almost threw the towel in at the end of last season but came back for another run at representative cricket.

Henderson took great satisfaction in claiming a five wicket haul in a representative match during a season in which he didn't expect to be taking to the field.

"I'd retired at the end of last season and I had some time to think in the off-season and felt that I might still have a little bit to offer. I missed playing with the boys in this Bathurst team so it feels great to be here again," he said.

"I'm very pleased with how I've been bowling. The body has thankfully been holding itself together and that's a big thing for me. Half the battle is looking after the old rig, and when you can put in a performance like that it makes you keen to come back for the next game."

Orange's day with the willow was sub-optimal, to put it nicely.

Blake Weymouth (37) received virtually no help from the rest of the top order and it wasn't until Ed Morrish (21) and Cam Rasmussen (14) came in that Orange could add some respectability to their total after sitting at 6-51 at one stage.

Henderson's wickets were crucial scalps as well - the top five Orange batsmen all fell to him: Weymouth, Tom Belmonte (7), Lachie Coyte (0), Bailey Ferguson (0) and Hugh Middleton (0).

Bathurst's opening bowlers Mitch Taylor (2-12 from 8.1 overs) and Jack Goodsell (2-40 from 10) then swept up the tail to give their team what looked to be, on paper, an easy chase.

Openers Imran Qureshi (11) and Joey Coughlan (3) didn't spend as long at the crease as they would have liked by captain Ryan Peacock (42) soon came out with intent to finish the match quickly.

Connor Slattery (13) chipped in before the Brien brothers, Bailey (14 not out) and Cooper (7 not out), finished the job.

Henderson said it was a tremendous all-round effort from Bathurst.

"We bowled really well and field well to back that up and that created a lot of pressure. We did the job. Batting's hard out there and whenever you're chasing something 90 to 100 that's always a tricky sort of total to chase," Henderson said.

"I felt pretty confident going out there. You don't have to bowl too quick, you've just got to hit the right areas and if you can stand the ball up to hit the seam it will do the work for you. I think we did that well, and in Orange's case they probably weren't as disciplined as us and a couple of misfields helped us out."

Bathurst have maintained top spot on the ladder with the only other unbeaten team left after three rounds - last season's fellow grand finalists Dubbo.

Bathurst next faces Parkes on January 31.